A Ukrainian government company will upgrade more than 100 Indian Air Force cargo aircraft, the Interfax news agency reported Monday. Officials from the Ukrainian military export monopolist Ukrspetsexport signed a contract worth more than 400 million dollars to modernize Antonov-32 twin-engine turboprop planes operated by India's military, the report said citing unnamed Ukrspetsexport officials.

The upgrades to be performed by technicians from the Kiev- headquartered Antonov Aircraft company will give India's An-32 fleet "a full modernisation of on-board communications and navigation equipment," according to the report.

The Indo-Ukrainian military contract announcement came five days after an An-32 crashed near the Indian city Mechukha in northern Arunachal Pradesh, killing all 13 people on board. Possible causes of the accident included a technical failure, or poor weather, according to India media reports.

India operates more than one-quarter of the altogether 360 An-32 planes manufactured by Antonov during the latter years of the Soviet Union. The only organization operating more An-32 - some 150 aircraft - is the Ukrainian air force.

The An-32 is an updated version of the venerable Soviet An-26, a twin-engine engineered for transporting cargo or people in rugged regions, particularly Soviet client states of the Cold War era.

Antonov twin turboprops are well-known throughout the former Soviet Union as a generally reliable plane offering passengers minimal comfort, and air crews only basic electronics.

Other India An-32 incidents reportedly include a February 2000 crash-landing at Arunachal Pradesh airfield, a March 1999 crash near Deli's Palam airport that killed 21. In 1992, a pair of the Ukraine- built turboprops collided whilst flying in formation.

Soon after an Antonov-32 crashed in Arunachal Pradesh, killing 13 military personnel on board, India has inked a $400 million deal

with Ukraine to upgrade IAF’s aging transport fleet of 104 such aircraft.

Though the contract was in the pipeline for a long time, with the AN-32s fast approaching the end of their “total technical life” of 25 years by this year-end, the June 9 crash seems to have propelled the government to finally close the deal.

Russia, of course, remains miffed with India for moving towards signing a defence cooperation pact with Ukraine. Russia sees Ukraine, which inherited a robust defence industry after the Soviet Union breakup two decades ago, as a rival to its thriving arms exports business with India.

Under the contract, all the 104 AN-32s will get an upgrade and life extension overhaul over a period of five years, with an initial lot being sent to Ukraine and the rest undergoing it at Kanpur BRD (base repair depot).

“The project will be executed between 2009 and 2013. It will include life extension of both the engines and airframe, improved avionics suite, communication equipment and landing aids,” said an official.

The medium-tactical transport AN-32s have had a relatively good flight safety record in IAF as compared to the MiG fighters, with the last major crash being recorded in Delhi in 1999, which killed 21 people. Of the 118 AN-32s inducted in 1984 to replace the then aging Dakota, Caribu and Packet planes, 14 have been lost in crashes till now.

But the twin-turboprop fleet, the IAF workhorse to ferry troops and supplies to forward areas, has suffered from poor serviceability, tardy maintenance, delays in overhauls and shortage of spares, resulting in a high AOG (aircraft on ground) percentage.

The parliamentary public accounts committee had recently, in fact, blasted the defence ministry and IAF for “slackness and ineptitude” in the contract management and procurement of critical spares.

The IAF move to modify six AN-32s during 2001-2003 for VIP use had also come in for scathing criticism since it diverted them from their primary task of transporting troops and cargo.

The only thing I cannot understand is, why couldn't this be done in house. All the communication equipment, mfd's can be bought off the shelf. Dont we have enough brains to integrate them. Western products are going to better than whatever comes out of ukraine anyway..

The only thing I cannot understand is, why couldn't this be done in house. All the communication equipment, mfd's can be bought off the shelf. Dont we have enough brains to integrate them. Western products are going to better than whatever comes out of ukraine anyway..

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Under the contract, all the 104 AN-32s will get an upgrade and life extension overhaul over a period of five years, with an initial lot being sent to Ukraine and the rest undergoing it at Kanpur BRD (base repair depot).

A week after a Russian-built AN 32 transport aircraft of the Air Force crashed in Arunachal Pradesh, killing 13 people on board, the Defence Ministry has disclosed that it has signed a deal with Ukraine to upgrade the ageing planes.

Confirming reports from Kiev that a $400-million deal has been signed to upgrade close to 100 of the twin-engine aircraft operated by India, Ministry officials said that a “life extension” contract was inked “recently”.

While Ukraine had won the tender to upgrade the transport aircraft in February, reports said that the formal contract was inked on Monday, four days after the June 9 crash. The IAF had began the process of upgrading the AN 32 aircraft in 2001 as it was nearing the end of its service life. The AN 32 aircraft, inducted in 1984, are the backbone of the IAF’s transport fleet.

The upgrade announcement comes even as investigators are struggling to recover the flight data recorder, or black box, of the aircraft that crashed shortly after taking off from the Mechuka landing base, close to the Chinese border.

A senior officer said that bad weather conditions — it has been raining incessantly in the area — have been holding up search operations and ground teams are yet to locate the vital black box needed to establish the cause of the crash.

“Photographs of the black box have been distributed to search teams to help them identify the equipment. Army personnel and members of the Air Force mountaineering team are assisting in the search,” a senior official said.

As part of the $402-million deal to upgrade 105 Aviant/Antonov An-32 of the Indian Air Force will involve a comprehensive engine and integrated avionics updation that will push the workhorse fleet for at least another two decades.

The upgrade will be undertaken by Antonov/Aviant and IAI jointly. The qualitative requirements as formally listed by the IAF for the upgrade are "extending service life, enhancing operational capabilities, easing workloads on crew and reducing maintenance costs".

LiveFist has learnt that the avionics of the An-32 will be replaced with an IAI-LAHAV-ELTA developed package, including a full glass cockpit with standard multi-function displays (MFDs) and a control display unit (CDU).

The LAHAV-ELTA avionics package that will go into each IAF An-32 includes a digital moving map, full NVG capability, in-flight mission rehearsal options, head-up display for both pilots (the IAF is still to communicate the the consortium if it wants HUDs for both pilots, one pilot, or none at all) and a significantly new advanced electronic warfare system (EWS), which will feature radar warning receiver, the fourth generation EL/M-2160 missile approach warning system, laser warning receiver and conventional countermeasures. Flight safety features being incorporated into the upgrade will include an advanced Terrain Avoidance Warning System (TAWS) and an Enhanced Traffic Collision Avoidance System (ETCAS), with options for a specialised weather radar.

BY : PIB
A contract for upgradation of AN-32 aircraft has been signed with State Foreign Trade Enterprise Spetstechnoexport (STE), Ukraine on June 15, 2009 for total technical life extension (TTLE), overhaul and re-equipment of AN-32 aircraft in the IAF fleet.
The calendar life of AN-32 aircraft will be enhanced from 25 years to 40 years. The expenditure likely to be incurred on the project is 397.7 million US Dollars. The upgradation process is scheduled to be completed between 2009-17.
This information was given by Defence Minister Shri AK Antony in a written reply to Shri Bhartruhari Mahtab & Pradeep Majhi in Lok Sabha today.

Ukraine will start modernization of military cargo planes for the Indian Air Force in December, a Ukrainian defense sector source told Interfax. The first Indian Antonov An-32 will arrive in Kyiv in December for the pilot modernization project, he said.
If India is satisfied with the modernization, the process will become extensive, at the 410th Kyiv Civil Aviation Plant.It is planned to increase the plane’s service life to 40 years and the payload from 6.7 tonnes to 7.5 tonnes. Cockpit noise will also be reduced.
The Indian Air Force and Spetstekhnoexport, a subsidiary of Ukrspetsexport state company, signed the contract of some $400 million in June, following the Ukrainian victory in the December 2007 tender. In all, 105 An-32 will be repaired and modernized. Ukraine’s Motor Sich will modernize the An-32 engine. Ukraine presents the An-74 patrol jet at the Indian tender for Coast Guard aircraft.

An expenditure of Rs. 56 lakhs was incurred by the Indian Air Force on conversion of eight AN-32 aircraft for VIP travel. The matter was examined in detail by the Public Accounts Committee of the 14th Lok Sabha and all aircraft have been demodified.

This information was given by Defence Minister Shri AK Antony in a written reply to Smt Sushila Saroj and others in Lok Sabha today.

You actually signed a long-term upgrade package with Ukraine? Bad idea, most of their MIC is already bankrupt, the top 10 companies like Antanov will be out of business in 2-3. As we all should know, Ukraine doesn't have the money to bail them out again.

Problem is, they don't get paid upfront. The net loss for this year is at -2888% @$1.65 billion. A $400m contract spread over 8 years is only $50m a year in revenue, and the way they are running it will just be at a bigger net loss. We are supposed to be co-producing An-148s, we are building ours just fine while they are losing orders due to paralysis. The total company value is $9.3 million. I wouldn't use their stock certificate to wipe my ass it is so worthless.

Following the inter-governmental contral that was signed on June 15 last year, the first batch of Indian An-32 tactical airlifters will leave leave for Kiev, Ukraine this month, while overhaul continues at the Base Repair Depot-1 in Kanpur. A total of 105 An-32s will be upgraded under the contract with Antonov Aeronautical Complex. I met officials from Antonov this week at DefExpo and got a brief on the upgrade programme.

Each of the 105 An-32s earmarked for the upgrade will be integrated with an tactical air collision avoidance system, ground proximity warning system, satellite navigation console, distance measuring equipment, new and upgraded radio altimeters, a whole new radar with two new large multifunction displays in the cockpit, a brand new oxygen handling and supply system, and most visibly, improved seats for crew members! A total of 25 new elements form a part of the upgrade. An Indian crew will station itself in the Ukraine starting next month and will remain there for a five-year period to test the upgraded fleet.

Antonov is also pitching its An-74 to the Navy, IAF and Coast Guard, and is holding discussions with HAL about system outsourcing.

BY: ANI
Ukraine will start upgrading the Indian Air Force’s medium lift AN-32 cargo aircraft in March.Antonov Aircraft Company, headquartered at Kiev, will give the eponymous 20-tonne-capacity aircraft a full upgrade of on-board communications and navigation systems.
The first Indian Antonov An-32 airplane is expected to arrive in Kyiv in early March to undergo modernization at the Antonov Design Bureau, according to Interfax-Ukraine.
India had signed a deal with Ukraine firm Spetstekhno export, a subsidiary of Ukrspets export state company to modernise its 105 AN-32 cargo aircraft.
The mass modernization program will be launched at Kyiv-based Civil Aviation Plant No. 410.
The up gradation of An-32 will prolong the airplanes’ life to 40 years and increase their commercial payload from 6.7 tonnes to 7.5 tonnes. Cockpit noise will also be reduced.
The Antonov-32s are the lifeline of Indian soldiers fighting uninhabitable weather conditions and the harsh terrain to protect Siachen Glacier, the world’s highest battlefield.
The aircraft is mainly used for carrying cargo, supplies and troops to Siachen, where guns fell silent following a November 2003 ceasefire accord with Pakistan.

First batch of AN-32 of Indian Air Force arrive in Ukraine for modernization

BY : DEFPRO
On March 4, 2010, the first batch of 5 military transport aircraft of Indian Air Force arrived to “Kyiv” airport. They will be overhauled and modernized at facilities of 410 Plant of civil aviation State Enterprise (Kyiv). The representative office of India has been established at the Plant 410.
On June 15, 2009, the contract on modernization of 105 AN-32s fleet of Indian Air Force was signed. According to this agreement, the first 40 airplanes will be upgraded in Ukraine, the other 65 ones – at BRD-1 aviation plant of Indian Air Force in Kanpur (Northern India).
Till present, ANTONOV’s specialists completed issue of design documentation as for modernization of the Indian AN-32. The airplanes will be fitted with up-to-date equipment providing higher level of flight safety, including air collision avoidance system, ground proximity warning system, satellite navigation system, distance measuring equipment, upgraded radio altimeters, new radar with two multifunctional indicators, new oxygen system and improves seats for crew members. As a total, 25 positions of new equipment will be installed. As D.S.Kiva, General Designer, noted “achieved agreement on modernization of Indian AN-32s is the result of big preliminary work. Certainly, it is a very important step in strengthening of cooperation between our countries. Besides according to the contract thousands of people will be engaged in fulfillment of these works during more than 5 years”.
After modification the trials with the installed equipment will be carried out. On the results of the tests, the airplanes will be shown to the Indian customer.
It was decided to modernize AN-32 because at present it can not be replaced with the other one. This airplane was especially designed on the order of Indian government to be operated from/to the elevated airfields (up to 4500 m above sea level) and under hot climate conditions. Often AN-32s are the only aircraft able to provide connection between mountain settlements and big cities. In India AN-32 was called “Silver Hourse” for its high maneuverability and reliability.

The contract for the modernization of the An-32 for the Indian Air Force will expand

The contract for the modernization of the AN-32 aircraft for Indian Air Force will be expanded. This at a press conference, said Director General of Civil Aviation Plant 410 Sergei undercut.

According to him, has an additional agreement with the Motor Sich for the supply of 100 engines worth $ 110 million "Then we consider the question of ordering an additional 100 engines", - said director general.

In addition, plans to increase the supply of spare parts for aircraft.

The contract for upgrading 105 AN-32 Indian Air Force signed on 15 June 2009 40 aircraft will be upgraded in Ukraine, while the remaining 65 - Indian Air Force aircraft plant at BRD-1 in Kanpur (North India). Order value is $ 397.7 million

According to a press conference the chief designer of "Antonov" Dmitry Kiva, the first upgraded aircraft will be delivered to India in June - July. Modernization itself takes 40 days, after which the acceptance of the aircraft will carry the Indian specialists.

I believe more than money this deal to is about building geopolitical influence, with the recent election results the Ukraine has begun it's repolarizarion back towards Moscow,if India plays it's cards right we could build deep relations with the Ukrainian MIC and hence cut paistan out of more T-80's or IL-78's.We need to make ourselves more important in Ukrainian eyes than Pakistan.